ADAPTATION AND SELECTION 65 



the struggle for existence among the individuals of 

 an abundant, varied, and intense life, there is 

 adaptation among the individuals to their surround- 

 ings and of their surroundings to the individuals. 



We have now to note hovp w^ith the adaptation- 

 goes selection. Set amid these physical and organic 

 surroundings, some helpful, some harmful, the 

 individual has to spend his life in selecting and 

 rejecting what will further or hinder his natural 

 development. He has to reject much, for there is 

 much that will harm him. He has to select a little 

 — for that little is vitally necessary for his upbuild- 

 ing and maintenance. From among the elements 

 of the soil he has to choose those particular elements 

 .that he needs. Thus a plant selects through its 

 roots from the elements of the soil, and through its 

 leaves from the elements of the air, those elements 

 and in those quantities that it needs for nourishment 

 and growth. But it has also, by means of thorns 

 or poison juices or other device, to protect itself 

 from being itself selected by some animal for that 

 animal's own nourishment and growth. 



So the individual is constantly selecting, "and is 

 as constantly on the guard against being selected. 

 The principle of selection among the abundant and 

 varied life is in continual operation. And unless 

 he selects wisely he will not survive; for he will 

 either have insufficient to live on or else have what 

 is harmful to his life. Nor will he survive unless he 

 is able to fend off those who would select him for 

 their own maintenance. There is selection every- 

 where — selection by the individual and selection of 



